If you ever want to test your mental strength, I highly recommend racing 90km straight into a vendaval (gale-force wind) that makes you question all your life choices.
Day one of the Vuelta Almería was, in one word: brutal. The kind of headwind that makes you feel like you’re cycling through miel de caña (molasses) while someone cranks up the incline. We hit the climbs, and the wind hit back harder—60km/h headwinds meant drafting was a fantasy, and those who lost the main group (yes, me) were left fighting an invisible but very real force of nature.
Despite the suffering, I dug deep—deeper than planned, actually. When my legs wanted to quit, I reminded myself: you didn’t come all this way to roll home like an abuela on a paseo. So, I fought on, pushed past the moral-destroying conditions, and crossed the line 2nd in the Elite Fem class. Not bad for a day where survival felt like the main goal!
Day Two: Mountains, Strategy, and Slightly Less Wind
After refueling (more on that later), I woke up for day two’s 140km + 1500m of climbing feeling… well, not fresh, but at least less traumatised than the day before. The weather had calmed down—still tough, but not Spanish Inquisition levels of suffering. With lessons learned from day one, I rode smarter, pushed harder, and found myself much closer to the front group. Another 2nd place Elite Fem finish, but this time, I was in the mix rather than chasing shadows.
Lessons from the Vuelta Almería
This was my first stage race, and wow—what an experience! Racing two back-to-back days at full gas is a different beast. It gave me a glimpse into pro peloton-style suffering, where planning, strategy, and recovery are as important as power. If this is what it takes to level up, then consider my eyes well and truly opened.
Massive Gracias
None of this happens without the amazing people around me—coaches, friends, and sponsors who make these race weekends possible. A special shoutout to my parents’ fridge, which—after my post-race refueling mission—looks worse than I did after two days of full-gas racing. Lo siento, fridge… but also, thank you.
Next stop: more races, more challenges, and hopefully, fewer headwinds. ¡Vamos!